Eye-catching pavilions at EXPO 2020

…and the crowd-pullers

The UAE pavilion, they say, is a sight to behold. It’s shaped like a falcon — the country’s national bird — in flight. The structure is topped by falcon-wing shapes made of carbon fiber and fitted with solar panels.

The IRAN pavilion is made up of a series of blue boxes, draped in fired clay balls. Different elements of the country’s culture, tradition and handicrafts are showcased in each box. Streams of water accompany visitors down walkways and into the pavilion.

The UK pavilion takes visitors on a digital journey through the UK’s role in space and artificial intelligence. The theme, ‘Innovating for a shared future,’ is reflected in the facade, which features continuously changing collective message generated by AI and visitors’ contributions.

The AUSTRALIA pavilion is made up of a network of vertical aluminum panels that hangs like a cloud over timber structures. The ‘cloud’ even lights up in the evening to mimic ‘the ancient and rugged landscape of Australia.’ Inside, the pavilion explores 60,000 years of Australian innovation, culture and creativity.

The PAKISTAN pavilion offers multi-sensory installations, encapsulated in walls of colour. The colourful façade is a reflection of the beautiful changing seasons the country experiences – one of the most diverse on Earth. Inside, Pakistan’s ‘hidden treasures’ are showcased, including its spiritual traditions, history and sustainability initiatives.

The RUSSIA pavilion is a huge dome, covered by strings of giant multi-coloured tubes. It’s meant to symbolise the question: “How do we find our place in an interconnected world?” Inside, it explores scientific advancements and creative innovations – past and present.

The JAPAN pavilion is made up of a combination of traditional Arabesque and Japanese Asanoha patterns and is meant to symbolise the crossover of culture, between Japan and the Middle East. Inside the structure, visitors can see 3D art installations.

The SWISS pavilion represents the country’s traditions and spectacular landscapes. Its giant interactive mirror façade reflects the red carpet that leads to it, to show the national flag. Inside, a ‘crystal cave’ showcases technology, innovation and scientific achievements through immersive displays, before visitors are led through a ‘sea of fog.’

The SPAIN pavilion is built from reusable materials (fabric, iron and wood) and is intended to promote sustainability. The structure is made of cone shaped ‘solar chimneys’ that cool the pavilion and highlight Spain’s links with the Arab world.

The KUWAIT pavilion is a digital showpiece, displaying images of the country’s landscapes on its façade, and showcasing a vision for the country’s future. Water towers stretch upwards through each level of the structure, symbolising Kuwait’s ‘commitment to sustainability and water security.’

The SAUDI ARABIA pavilion is a six-story structure and is the second-largest pavilion after that of the UAE. It has a sloping, rectangular structure. The ‘Heritage’ escalator takes visitors up to experience the country’s history and culture, while the ‘Future’ escalator takes them down to explore modern Saudi Arabia, through an LED mirror screen and an interactive water feature.

And the pavilions that are crowd-pullers are said to be the UAE, South Arabia, the US, Italy and India.

Unfortunately, SRI LANKA’s pavilion is nowhere in the scene.